About Biblical Counseling
THE CONCEPT OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING: Biblical counseling is committed to the position that Scripture provides the only authoritative guide for what we are to believe and how we are to live (2 Timothy 3:16,17). The Biblical Counselor is trained in the use of Scripture and the principles of biblical counseling. The counsel is not based on man’s wisdom, opinions, experience, or concepts of behavior, (Isaiah 55:8-11) but seeks to bring the full range of Biblical Truth to focus on the counselee’s need (Hebrews 4:12).
THE SCOPE OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING: Biblical counseling deals with the entire range of problems confronting mankind including but not limited to: broken marriages, parent child relationships, fear, depression, alcohol and substance abuse, stress, anxiety, worry, and any other problems that may result in mental and/or physical immobility. In short the Biblical Counselor is equipped to deal with any problem dealing with ourselves, our relationship to God or our fellow man (2 Peter 1:3).
MEDICAL NEEDS: Biblical Counselors believe in the total health needs of the counselee. Your counselor may recommend that you have a full or specified medical examination. If medical assistance is required, counseling will continue in conjunction with medical advice.
PLEASE NOTE that this is not licensed counseling, and we are not trained medical professionals or therapists. This is 'pastoral counseling' or lay-counseling, and we do not claim to be offering licensed counseling or therapy.
ELEMENTS OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING: Your counselors will use their skill in applying Biblical principles to enable you to glorify God in your life and to enable you to gain victory over the problems that are depriving you of the peace and joy that God has promised you in His Word. Your counselor will concentrate in three areas that are necessary for Biblical change to take place:
HOPE – In Jesus Christ we have a great High Priest who has suffered and been tempted in all things, yet He never sinned. Because of Christ, even though you may be facing every sin common to man, you can have victory. God has promised that He will not let you be tempted beyond your endurance and that He will provide a way for you to have victory in the midst of your temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 4:14-16).
CHANGE – In Christ we can learn how to lay aside the old selfish ways of living and put on the new ways of living in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can learn to please God in every area of our lives. We can learn to live a godly life and to live in such a way that we will be increasing in our knowledge of God and our ability to relate to others. Biblical counseling will enable you to make practical changes (Eph. 4:10-13; Col. 1:10).
PRACTICE – We need to prove ourselves to be doers of God’s Word and not merely hearers of the Word. Only in the actual practice of the Scriptures shall we be blessed in what we do, and only then will we please the Lord (James 1:22; Proverbs 28:13).
STANDARDS OF PRACTICE, adopted from the International Association of Biblical Counselors:
DEFINITION OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING:Biblical Counseling is Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-empowered, loving and practical application of Biblical truths with the goal of spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. This counseling is based on the inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of the Word of God. To safeguard against misguided and unbalanced practices of counseling which may mistakenly be labeled "biblical," some standards of practice are necessary to encourage excellence and to provide some measure of trustworthiness for general referral.ACCORDINGLY, IABC MEMBERS AND COUNSELORS ARE REQUIRED TO AFFIRM THE FOLLOWING IN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE:
Please click on this link for the IABC Statement of Purpose, Affirmations and Denials: (click here)
THE SCOPE OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING: Biblical counseling deals with the entire range of problems confronting mankind including but not limited to: broken marriages, parent child relationships, fear, depression, alcohol and substance abuse, stress, anxiety, worry, and any other problems that may result in mental and/or physical immobility. In short the Biblical Counselor is equipped to deal with any problem dealing with ourselves, our relationship to God or our fellow man (2 Peter 1:3).
MEDICAL NEEDS: Biblical Counselors believe in the total health needs of the counselee. Your counselor may recommend that you have a full or specified medical examination. If medical assistance is required, counseling will continue in conjunction with medical advice.
PLEASE NOTE that this is not licensed counseling, and we are not trained medical professionals or therapists. This is 'pastoral counseling' or lay-counseling, and we do not claim to be offering licensed counseling or therapy.
ELEMENTS OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING: Your counselors will use their skill in applying Biblical principles to enable you to glorify God in your life and to enable you to gain victory over the problems that are depriving you of the peace and joy that God has promised you in His Word. Your counselor will concentrate in three areas that are necessary for Biblical change to take place:
HOPE – In Jesus Christ we have a great High Priest who has suffered and been tempted in all things, yet He never sinned. Because of Christ, even though you may be facing every sin common to man, you can have victory. God has promised that He will not let you be tempted beyond your endurance and that He will provide a way for you to have victory in the midst of your temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 4:14-16).
CHANGE – In Christ we can learn how to lay aside the old selfish ways of living and put on the new ways of living in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can learn to please God in every area of our lives. We can learn to live a godly life and to live in such a way that we will be increasing in our knowledge of God and our ability to relate to others. Biblical counseling will enable you to make practical changes (Eph. 4:10-13; Col. 1:10).
PRACTICE – We need to prove ourselves to be doers of God’s Word and not merely hearers of the Word. Only in the actual practice of the Scriptures shall we be blessed in what we do, and only then will we please the Lord (James 1:22; Proverbs 28:13).
STANDARDS OF PRACTICE, adopted from the International Association of Biblical Counselors:
DEFINITION OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING:Biblical Counseling is Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-empowered, loving and practical application of Biblical truths with the goal of spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. This counseling is based on the inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of the Word of God. To safeguard against misguided and unbalanced practices of counseling which may mistakenly be labeled "biblical," some standards of practice are necessary to encourage excellence and to provide some measure of trustworthiness for general referral.ACCORDINGLY, IABC MEMBERS AND COUNSELORS ARE REQUIRED TO AFFIRM THE FOLLOWING IN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE:
- I believe that the Scripture is sufficient, through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, to address all of man's needs. (2 Peter 1:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:16) Therefore, my counseling methods, practices, and techniques will be based upon clear Biblical principles. (1 Corinthians 3:19)
- I believe that all mankind is in need of personal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. If those I counsel do not possess this salvation, a primary objective of my counseling must be the clear, Spirit-led communication of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Matthew 28:19-20)
- I agree to counsel and teach the Lordship of Jesus Christ in order to lead counselees away from a humanistic focus on self and to a proper focus on Him. (Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1-2)
- I agree to honor the Scriptural sanctity of life, marriage, and family and to do my utmost in counseling to reinforce these beliefs. (Psalm 139:13-14, Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:16; Proverbs 23:25; Colossians 3:20)
- I agree that, as God empowers me, I will live my life and conduct all my relationships in godliness and holiness before Him, with the goal of living out the truths that I am teaching. (Philippians 2:12-13)
- I agree with the Spiritual authority of the local church. I will evidence this by my involvement in a local church and by instructing those whom I counsel to involve themselves in a church also, thus working in concert with it, rather than in competition against it. (Hebrews 10:25)
Please click on this link for the IABC Statement of Purpose, Affirmations and Denials: (click here)
